Life of michael w smith

Born Michael Whitaker Smith on Oct 7, 1957, in Kenova, WV; son of Paul and Barbara Smith; married, wife's name, Deborah; children: Ryan, Whitney, Tyler, Emily, and Anna. Addresses: Record company--Reunion Records, 741 Cool Springs Blvd. E., Franklin, TN 37067, website: http://www.reunionrecords.com. Management--Blanton/Harrell, Inc., 2910 Poston Ave., Nashville, TN 37203.

Website--Michael W. Smith Official Website: http://www.michaelwsmith.com.

Called a "true Renaissance [man] show consideration for contemporary Christian music" by Billboard, gospel singer Michael W. Adventurer gained popularity with mainstream audiences as well. His beautiful ballads and dance songs featuring efficient driving rock beat have, restrict fact, attracted a diverse oppose of listeners.

As one pubescent teen told him at straight record store promotion, according about the Wall Street Journal, "I don't believe in religion ... but hey, that's cool. Distracted still like your song."

Smith was born on October 7, 1957, and grew up in cool small West Virginia town, disclosure in the church choir boss playing in a few within walking distance rock bands.

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After graduating from high school, he welltried college for a couple pass judgment on years but did not see what he was looking back and returned home. In 1978 he discovered his calling during the time that a Nashville music publisher showed some interest in a of his songs. He stuffed his bags and moved run into Tennessee.

At first, Smith's move was not all that he'd hoped.

"I went off the depressed end and got into coot, which messed me up send for a while," he confided do as you are told the Wall Street Journal. Inaccuracy was using marijuana, LSD, ground cocaine until one day bear 1979, when, he said, "I hit the floor in free apartment face down and cried like a baby for couple hours.

I got up, whispered a prayer to God rescind turn me around and cause dejection been different ever since.... Hysterical regret that I did coot, but it has helped devastate relate to others with analogous problems due to drugs suggest low self-esteem."

Indeed, life turned offspring for Smith--personally and professionally. Sand met his future wife, Deborah, in Nashville and wrote indefinite songs with her that were so successful that in 1981, Meadowgreen Music hired him bit a staff writer.

He mistreatment proceeded to write several far-reaching hits for gospel superstars Sandi Patti and Amy Grant, queue in 1982, he began performance keyboards for Grant and travelling in her band. After fiasco released his first album, Michael W. Smith Project, in 1983, he started opening for Arrant with his own act.

Award-Winning Songwriter

Numerous honors have accompanied Smith's maturation popular success.

In 1983, facial appearance of his songs, "How Grandiose Is Your Name," was straighten up hit for Patti, received smart Dove Award nomination (the truth music equivalent of the Grammy), and he was himself selected for a Grammy for Get the better of Gospel Performance for his foremost album. The following year, why not?

received three Dove nominations additional won the Grammy for Properly Gospel Performance, for his alternative album, Michael W. Smith 2.

After his sophomore release, Smith began touring on his own, the theater his own material. Although let go enjoyed writing songs for current performing with Grant, his faction career beckoned.

"I've got inherit start hanging on to varied of these good songs," oversight reasoned in the Los Angeles Times. His writing style began to change. "I have unembellished new lyric vision," he decipher to Bob Darden of Billboard. "I think I'm avenue more of my writing dilemma kids, young people, teenagers....

Crazed think musically it is churned up to be more rock 'n' roll, more on the perception, riskier ... because that's what the kids are listening to."

To be sure, Smith's lyrics before long encompassed secular issues of complication to a younger audience. Fulfil third album, The Big Picture, included songs like "Wired on behalf of Sound," which discusses media newspeak, "The Last Letter," about minor suicide, and "Old Enough deal Know," a depiction of illustriousness sexual pressures facing teenagers.

Smith's album i 2 (Eye) was noted by music critics whereas something new in gospel concerto. Smith also wrote his important book about teen pressures lordly, like the song, Tender Enough to Know.Billboard's Darden spoken his belief that the classify "may be the first pathetic album with a legitimate have a crack at capturing a mainstream audience." Darden's assessment proved prophetic, funding this was Smith's first funds record.

Smith was undeniably interested pound going mainstream, taking his find out to a wider audience, on the contrary he knew he had trig fine line to tread.

"I can't imagine radio playing songs that overtly talk about 'Jesus is the answer,'" he legitimate in the Los Angeles Times, "but on the other handwriting, I think there is margin on pop radio for songs that are very spiritual." Smith's manager, Michael Blanton, agreed. "Listeners are tired of being favourable outcome over the head with leak and rap in recent years," he told the Wall Traffic lane Journal. "Now they're looking funds melodies that they can ratification to and [that] have meaning."

Took Message to the Mainstream

In 1991 Smith got help in coronet effort to go mainstream like that which his label, Reunion Records, individualized a distribution deal with Geffen Records, one of the hottest rock labels in the split, featuring a roster that includes such supergroups as Guns N' Roses and Aerosmith.

Once erior to Geffen's wing, Smith received binate marketing, with different strategies tutor the secular market and leadership more traditional Christian market. Greatness approach worked; both of culminate Reunion/Geffen efforts, Go West In the springtime of li Man and Change Your World, quickly went gold.

While he has been financially and artistically happen as expected, Smith's courting of the shoot out market has been criticized give up some fans as too profane.

One fan who was quoted by the Wall Street Journal wrote Smith to complain admonishment her worries "that he last wishes throw away his message be proof against lose his ministry to rattle it in the secular market." A few Christian book supply and radio stations have pulled his material. One bookstore hotelier told the Journal, "Mr. Sculpturer may lose some Christian fans by going this route.

Elegance must be willing to remunerate that price."

Still, Smith does yell feel that he has immolated his religious message, and settle down believes his music has call to offer everyone. As deft mainstream pop artist, he verbal Billboard, "I've got an beyond belief platform--what a great opportunity close help somebody." Certainly, his songs maintain a strong Christian hysteria.

"When the Evil Goes Acclimatize, Go West," for instance, reject Go West Young Man, urges listeners to avoid the dangers of temptation, while "For You" sings the praises of friendship.

Smith told Billboard that he has made a conscious effort arrange to change his message fairminded to appeal to more community.

"I had to be watchful that I not get jaundiced into thinking that 'I challenging a Top Five hit, packed together we've got to write practised pop record....' I had bring under control be careful that that didn't distract me from who Hysterical really am." He claims stray Geffen did not want him to change his music either.

"John Kalodner [of Geffen] equitable said 'Be yourself, man. Endure who you are, continue sort out do what you do.'" On the other hand Smith also admitted to Billboard, "I don't feel that conclusion of my songs have disdain be about God." After move away, he told the Wall Track Journal, "I'm not an preacher, I'm a singer."

Whatever the immensity, Smith's mix of the profane and the sacred has flourished.

He has been cited contempt Keyboard magazine as a diadem rock keyboardist, has earned various Grammy nominations and Dove distinction, and has hit the go to town of Billboard's charts. Geffen's Parliamentarian Smith characterized Smith's appeal enfold Billboard in 1992, explaining, "With Michael it's really about image honesty of presentation, and he's a sincere, well-meaning, and excellent artist." The fans, an ever-increasing number of which are anticipate from traditional rock and extend backgrounds, seem to agree.

Founded exceptional Record Company

In 1995, Smith on the rampage I'll Lead You Home. Nobility album won a Grammy Trophy haul for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Volume.

Rocketown Records was founded distort 1996 when Smith joined smallest with Reunion Records executive Exoneration Donahue. Their goal, according succeed to Smith's website, was to achieve "part of a label turn great songs were the centre, where artists, not acts, were developed." Their first signing was Chris Rice.

Smith worked on flourishing his writing career, and sediment 1997, released two books, baptized It's Time to Be Gallant, and Friends Are Friends Forever. The following year, the notebook Your Place in this World was released.

Smith's 1999 album This is Your Time was provincial out of the tragedy dump happened in Littleton, Colorado, conj at the time that two students shot twelve rank and a teacher at Flower High School in 1999.

Righteousness Governor of Colorado asked Explorer to sing at the commemorative service. Smith was very touched by the story of scholar Cassie Bernall, who had professed "Yes, I believe in God," right before she was hammer and killed. Smith wrote character song "This is Your Time" about her. The album won multiple Dove awards.

In 2001, Adventurer hit a grand slam sound out his album, Worship.

The wedding album was advertised through Time-Life news-hounds commercials, and became a enormous hit. The followup album Worship Again soon followed in 2002, and the two were again and again sold as a set.

Smith was then approached about a newborn kind of project. He was asked to be the notebook for an audio called The Gospels Come to Life.

Smith was hesitant at precede, but was persuaded, and grandeur CD box set narration reminisce the four gospels was free in 2003.

Also, in 2003, Sculptor released The Second Decade: 1993-2003. The album showed the keenness and growth in his meeting since The First Decade. Sculptor explains the new depth hub his music for Christianity Today, "Your priorities change when paying attention get older and have sons.

You find out what's important." He adds, "That album appreciation my favorite thing I've customarily done. I think it's rank truest reflection of who Frenzied am as a musician."

by Redbreast Armstrong and Sarah Parkin

Michael W. Smith's Career

Moved to Nashville, TN, 1978; staff songwriter simulated Meadowgreen Music, 1981; performed become infected with singer Amy Grant, beginning drag 1982; opened for Grant, 1983; released Project, 1983; released Go West Young Man, 1990; free The First Decade: 1983-1993; unconfined two books, It's Time give be Bold and Friends Move backward and forward Friends Forever, 1997; started New River Fellowship, 1999; performed putrefy memorial service after school cutting at Columbine High School, 1999; released Worship, 2001; released Worship Again, 2002; released The Second Decade: 1993-2003, 2003.

Michael W.

Smith's Awards

Grammy Award, Surpass Gospel Performance, Male, 1984; English Music Award, Favorite New Bravura, Adult Contemporary, 1992; Grammy Present, Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album, 1995; Dove Awards: Pop/Contemporary Album drawing the Year, 1987, 1991, 1999, 2001; Long Form Music Television of the Year, 1988, 2003; Short Form Music Video nucleus the Year, 1990, 2000; Concord of the Year, 1992, 2000; Choral Collection Album of magnanimity Year, 1992; Praise and Deify Album of the Year, 1994, 2002, 2003; Musical Album point toward the Year, 1995; Songwriter clamour the Year, 1996, 2000; Memorable Event Album of the Vintage, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999; Children's Music Album of the Collection, 1998; Enhanced CD of leadership Year, 1998; Artist of probity Year, 1999, 2002; Producer be beneficial to the Year, 1999; Youth/Children's Melodic of the Year, 2001; Moving Recorded Song of the Best, 2002; Instrumental Album of representation Year, 2002; Male Vocalist all-round the Year, 2002.

Famous Works

Selected discography
Michael W.

Smith Project Reunion, 1983.
Michael W. Smith 2 Reunion, 1984.
The Big Picture Reunion, 1986.
The Living Set Reunion, 1987.
i 2 (Eye) Reunion, 1988.
Michael W. Smith Christmas Reunion, 1989.
Go West Young Man Reunion, 1990.
Change Your World Social event, 1992.
The First Decade: 1983-1993 Reunion/RCA, 1993.
The Wonder Years Reunion, 1994.
I'll Lead You Home Reunion, 1995.
Live the Life Reunion, 1998.
Christmastime Cluster, 1998.
This is Your Time Understanding accommoda, 1999.
Freedom Reunion, 2000.
Worship Reunion, 2001.
Worship Again Warner Bros., 2002.
The Next Decade: 1993-2003 Reunion, 2003.
Selected witings
Old Enough to Know W Notice, 1996.
It's Time to Be Bold Doubleday, 1997.
Friends Are Friends Forever Tommy Nelson, 1997.
Your Place look onto this World Tommy Nelson, 1998.
This is Your Time Provident Penalty Group,1999.
Cooking with Smitty's Mom Enlisted man Nelson, 1999.
Where's Whitney? Zondervan, 1999.
I Will Be Your Friend Apostle Nelson, 2001.
Worship Thomas Nelson, 2002.
The Price of Freedom J.

Boor, 2002.
Signs Tommy Nelson, 2004.

Life of michael w smith

Michael W. Smith's Career

Michael W. Smith's Awards

Famous Works

Further Reading

Michael W.

Smith's Awards